Holidays

It has been great holidays so far. Had a wonderful Christmas and am enjoying my time at home with my wife and daughter. Been able to play some NHL, read some books and of course eat lots and enjoy time with family. Here are a few pictures.

Audios 2011, welcome 2012

While it is still a while before 2012 rings in, I probably, most likely won't be making any kind of posting on here until then . . . just seems to be how it goes. With three sleeps to go until Christmas, I am really looking forward to the time off with family and friends. This will be our daughter's first Christmas and Kim and I are pumped for that. The fun all kicks off tomorrow and then will roll until the 27th when all the 'extended' Christmas gatherings end. We do have another in January as well which will be a blast. If you read the Watrous Manitou, I have highlights of 2011 local sports in there for Monday's paper (Dec. 26). I also put local news headlines in this week's edition. I found it amazing how much stuff happens in and around Watrous and with former residents who are doing bigger and better things. Make sure and check it out if you get a chance. Here are some of my recent pictures that I really enjoyed taking . . . hope you enjoy. From Kim, Natalie and I may you have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year! Blessings!

Friday's fast facts

Here are some thoughts from the past week ... have a wonderful weekend - the last before Christmas!

Wearing a green Roughriders tie and a smile, the Saskatchewan Roughriders new head coach Corey Chamblin was appointed as the team’s bench boss. The early Christmas gift was announced Dec. 15 by general manager Brendan Taman who has full control of the team’s operations when it comes to management.

While I was hoping the team would go with Calgary Stampeder offensive coordinator Dave Dickenson, after hearing the press conference and what Chamblin had to say, I came away impressed. Chamblin seems like a down-to-earth guy who is a player-type coach. He is also one of the youngest to get a job and is only a year older than slotback Jason Clermont. Chamblin also was mentored by Pittsburgh Steelers’ coach Mike Tomlin and in fact Tomlin gave the ‘Riders a reference for Chamblin. 

That in itself is good enough for me. To have a coach like Tomlin endorse you is no small feat. However, in saying that it will also depend on who he brings in to help him coach on the sidelines. The way it sounded, Chamblin wants a staff to help teach and instruct players and not just yell at them. That should bode well I think and I am anticipating a good staff to be on board. 

In saying that I also hope they bring in a quarterback coach to help with Darian Durant. Durant thrived with Marcus Crandel who was there before taking a position with Edmonton. Last year he really didn’t have anyone to bounce ideas off of and if it was up to me I would hire Kerry Joseph. To have Durant’s buddy and a quarterback who knows the game, would be a fantastic addition. However, with the crazy trade in Edmonton a few weeks ago with quarterback Ricky Ray being dealt, Joseph may want to try and win the starting job with the Eskimos this season. I don’t blame him but would not be surprised if he gets into the coaching ranks in the near future.

Getting away from the CFL for a bit, here are a few random thoughts as we head towards 2012.

• Why are there so many concussions in the NHL this year?

• Whether you like him or not, you have to give credit to Tim Tebow’s clutch performances. Tebow and the Denver Broncos find ways to win and at the end of the day that’s what counts. I like Tebow and think he would be a nice fit in the CFL.

• If the Calgary Flames don’t make any deals, whether it is to improve their team or rebuild, they will not make the playoffs. 

• How are the Minnesota Wild playing so good?

• The NBA regular season is on . . . 

• I still can’t believe that the Philadelphia Eagles shot themselves in the foot earlier this season. Knowing that New York and Dallas struggle late in the year makes it that much worse to know that a few more wins would of had them possibly in the playoffs.

• Looking forward to watching the World Juniors on TV. Team Canada will be looking for gold on home turf this year. I think they will get to the medal round.

• Apparently ‘Rider receiver Andy Fantuz was reportedly offered a three year deal to make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the CFL. That deal was also rejected. I think you let him go and use that money to strengthen the defense.

• Chicago’s Patrick Kane had one of the nicest shootout goals ever! His goal against Minnesota was purely amazing!

Bush Arena

Started in 1990, the backyard rink at my parents' house in Watrous has grown over the years. Now that my brother, sister and I each have kids they will soon be able to enjoy it. However, before that, my brother, brother-in-law and friends will be able to hit the ice for another season, this one the 21st consecutive year! Here are some pics of the rink, which was made by my dad this season! He did a tremendous job and even added the red line and face-off dots! Chain link fence surrounds both ends to protect the neighbours yards and my parents' deck.

Alumni Hockey

Heard that Bethany College, where I went to school is having its hockey alumni tourney this year. After an absence, the event is taking place in February. I love that time when you get to see old faces and buddies. It is also the soccer alumni event too so there should be lots of friends there. Looking forward to it--here is our team from a few years ago that won the tourney-- going from not winning a game the two or three previous years to rolling through and getting the big trophy :) The bear shirt also had a lot to do with it haha.

Natalie

Just had to toss a few pictures of my daughter on here. What an absolute blessing!

Christmas shopping - the Amazing Race?

With the Christmas tunes blasting at work, in the car and at home, I thought my column for the next paper would be about last minute Christmas Shopping....I did that once and I will never do it again. Here is what I had to say:

Would you consider Christmas shopping a sport or even something you would see on the television show Amazing Race? Before you answer that or think I am crazy for asking, I think there could be some validity to it. 

If you do your shopping earlier than the last week and a half before Christmas then I would imagine your answer would be no. I would say you are lucky and smart for not leaving the task to the last minute. As you enjoy a cup of hot chocolate in front of your fireplace, others are gearing up for busy malls and crowded parking lots. I would almost compare it to the show Amazing Race. If you have never watched Amazing Race, competitors race against others to be the first team to reach their destination after performing a series of tasks. The last team usually gets eliminated. 

In the case of last minute Christmas shopping, this holds true to the show as the last minute shoppers are like the contestants performing a series of tasks like making sure they get the right Christmas gift. Not only is there that strategy involved but ‘contestants’ have to try and find a parking spot, figure out which stores to run into and then try and maneuver through crowds to hopefully find what you are looking for. 

I can’t imagine what malls in New York or large centres would be like during the week leading up to Christmas. Traffic is hectic, malls are packed tighter than sardines and the popular items become more rare to find than the Leafs winning the Stanley Cup.

Thankfully, this year we have essentially wrapped up our Christmas shopping in the Bushman house so our Amazing Race challenge is virtually done. This is a first to be done this early, but ever since I left shopping until the last minute one year, I vowed I would never do that again! 

Since I was working in Saskatoon at that time, it took me forever to find a parking spot at the Midtown Mall. Oh I should also mention I think the day I went shopping was Dec. 23. To find a spot before someone else is a sport in itself. After a 20 minute drive underground I finally found something, so I crammed my car in there and headed upstairs. That was just the beginning as I then had to fight my way through people in the mall to get to stores I needed to get too. Since I didn’t really know what to buy, stopping in numerous stores meant shoulder-to-shoulder with other last minute shoppers. I have to say I am not a fan of crowded malls or really malls in general so this was not exactly something I would consider fun.

Then there are those shoppers who are focused and determined to get what they need and fast. My advice if you are not one of them is to move aside. I have also noticed for ‘some reason’ that the tension is usually a little higher than normal for some shoppers during that time of year. It is also best to step away out of their path and try a different route of getting to your destination. You might take a bit more time, but it will be worth it in the long run than dealing with a confrontation.

With elbows up and your favourite running shoes on, a person has to power their way through the busy area and do their best to snag the perfect gift before everyone else gets it. Otherwise it will be plan B, C, or even D in which case you have no idea what to do.

Once you get back to your vehicle after a day of madness in the malls, then it is back home and for me that is where the real challenge comes in, wrapping the gifts. I don’t profess to be a good wrapper, ask my wife. Trying to make it picture perfect is just not going to happen. If that task was part of the Amazing Race game, I would lose badly. But thankfully I have a backup plan, my daughter. When she gets old enough in a few years she might just be making a few bucks from her dad to help him wrap her mom’s gifts.